Cable Backs Vauxhall

Chester MP Stephen Mosley quizzed the Secretary for State on his hopes for the factories in the UK. Cable has recently met with parent company General Motors in the US.

He told the House of Commons yesterday “I understand that production in the automotive industry has increased by 20% over the past year, and a lot of that is due to inward investors.

“I am of course well aware of the problems surrounding General Motors. Within the Government, I am working very closely with the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, my colleague the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk). I was in the United States two weeks ago talking to the chairman and chief executive (of General Motors) about that.

“I have to say that the Government, the trade unions and the British management have put forward an extremely powerful case not just for staying in the UK but for expanding.”

When asked about jobs at the plants by the Mosley, Vince Cable continued “Currently the plant does not operate at full capacity; the issue for the company is how to use that production in a way that minimises excess capacity. We are confident that the UK has a strong case in ensuring that existing production—but also new models, as he said—is secured in Ellesmere Port.”